Cover for a laptop or notebook computer

Abstract

A cover for a portable computer is a thin flexible material adapted to fit closely over the computer like a glove. The cover has cut-outs for the keyboard, screen, controls, ports, etc. of the computer so that the cover does not interfere with convenient use of the computer. The cover is compact and adds little additional volume or weight to the computer, while protecting the computer housing or case, providing an attractive appearance and also providing convenient accessories, such as pockets for a power supply cord, floppy disks, CD ROM disks, pencils, etc. The computer may be carried or used with the cover installed.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a portable computer of the type having a keyboard on a keyboard base section including internal components and a screen on a screen section pivotally attached to the keyboard base section, and a latch for latching the keyboard base section and screen section closed, the improvement comprising: a keyboard base cover section made of a thin and flexible material and having front and back walls joined by bottom, left and right side walls, and an open top, the keyboard base cover section adapted to slide over the keyboard base section of the computer; and   a screen cover section attached to the keyboard cover section and made of a thin and flexible material and having front and rear walls joined by left and right side walls and a top wall, the screen cover section adapted to slide over the screen section, with the front wall of the keyboard base cover section and the front wall of the screen cover section at least partially covering surfaces of the computer surrounding the keyboard and screen, respectively and being thin enough to allow the base keyboard section and the screen section to be pivoted closed and latched, the keyboard base cover section having a plurality of cut-outs, sized and shaped to align with the internal components within the keyboard base section, and a flap over at least some of the cut-outs, with each flap adapted to cover an internal component when closed, and to expose that internal component when the flap is opened.   
     
     
       2. The computer of claim 1 further comprising a padding material attached to an inside surface of the base cover section or upper cover section. 
     
     
       3. The computer of claim 1 wherein the upper cover section is joined to the lower cover section. 
     
     
       4. The computer of claim 1 further comprising hinge tabs extending from the front wall of the upper cover section and adapted to wrap around a lower edge of the upper section. 
     
     
       5. The computer of claim 1 wherein the material is less than 3/16 inch thick. 
     
     
       6. The computer of claim 1 wherein the upper section of the portable computer has a screen, and the upper cover section has a screen cutout opening aligned over the screen. 
     
     
       7. The computer of claim 1 further comprising a transparent window attached to the screen section cover and positioned over the screen.